East Bali Day Trip: What to See Beyond the Bali Gates of Heaven

East Bali is home to some of the top Bali attractions and landmarks including the famous Pura Lempuyang, former water palaces and incredible volcano viewpoints. Short on time? Here is an East Bali itinerary to get you started.

With the vast majority of travelers to Bali frequenting popular areas like Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu and Ubud, East Bali has remained somewhat quieter than its “Bali poster child” counterparts despite being home to some of the island’s most iconic landmarks.

If you only have 2 weeks in Bali and don’t have time to spend a few nights in the eastern part of the island, it is actually also possible to venture over for a day trip to visit a few of Bali’s most revered temples, perfectly preserved water palaces and sweeping viewpoints.

Here is my guide to spending 1 day in East Bali, including tips on how to get there, what to see and what to expect.

Travel tips for visiting Bali

But first, here is a quick refresher on Bali travel logistics.

✈️ The main airport in Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport (airport code: DPS). Many airlines fly direct to Bali.

🛂 A 30-day tourist visa-on-arrival is available for passport holders from more than 80 countries. The Bali visa fee is US$35 or 500,000 IDR, and can be paid by cash or credit card – the fee is the same for adults and children. As of November 2022, you can also apply for an electronic visa ahead of your trip here – this may save you some time at the airport on arrival. Complete the electronic customs declaration ahead of your Bali trip here.

As of February 14th 2024 you will also be required to pay a 150,000 IDR (approximately US$10) “tourism levy” to be used towards the conservation of Bali’s nature and support sustainable tourism – this fee is in addition to the visa-on-arrival fee. You should pay this fee online before your trip. Read more on the new levy here.

💱 The currency used in Bali is the Indonesian rupiah and the exchange rate is approximately US$1/1 Euro: 15,000 IDR or AUD$1: 10,000 IDR. There are ATMs in the airport where you can withdraw some cash to get you started, and then you can visit a local ATM or money exchange place once you are in town.

Legitimate currency exchange/money changer shops in Bali advertise the rates clearly and do not charge a commission – make sure you count your cash before leaving to avoid any later disputes. The majority of hotels, tourist restaurants and supermarkets accept credit card payments (you may find that in Southeast Asia that Visa and Mastercard are preferred over American Express), though you will still need cash to pay drivers and for any tips.

📱 Buy a local Indonesian SIM card. Everyone in Bali uses Whatsapp to communicate – this includes hotels, taxi drivers, spas and equipment rental companies. The easiest way to stay connected is to buy a Bali SIM card via Klook. You will need to provide certain information including your passport copy and phone IMEI number. Buy your Bali SIM card here.

🏖️ The best time to visit Bali is widely considered to be during the northern hemisphere’s summer months between July to early September (also the “dry” season with lower rainfall) – this also means that this is Bali’s peak tourism season. The rainy season in Bali usually runs during the winter months from December to February and it can be very humid and sticky during this time (though the rain storms tend to come and go rather than linger all day long).

That being said, there is no “bad” time to visit Bali. One important thing to note for first time visitors to Bali is that Nyepi, New Year’s day in the Balinese calendar, falls in March (the date changes each year) and during this day the island observes complete silence. Shops and businesses close for the day, and everybody (including tourists) is expected to stay indoors as part of the ritual. The airport is no exception – there are no arrivals and departures on the day of Nyepi and some hotels may not arrange check-ins and outs during this day. In 2024 Nyepi will fall on March 11th and last until the morning of March 12th, and in 2025 Nyepi will take place on March 29th until the morning of March 30th.

Another major holiday in Bali to take note of is Galungan and Kuningan, a Hindu celebration which takes place every 210 days. The two major events are 10 days apart, and many Balinese Hindus will spend the festival visiting family temples – many government offices will be closed on Galungan and Kuningan, and some major religious landmarks (like Pura Lempuyang) may close for ceremonies or have different opening and closing times. It is a beautiful time to be in Bali, when all the streets are lined with towering bamboo penjors.

🚁 Flying a drone in Bali: You can fly a small drone in Bali for recreational, non-commercial purposes without a license as long as you follow a few important guidelines. You should not fly a drone around or over any temple, and many hotels and beach clubs will have their own policies for drone usage on their property, so it’s best to check ahead before you launch your UAV.

You might also like: 2 Week Bali Itinerary For First Time Visitors

Where to stay for an East Bali day trip

Though Bali is small, the travel times between destinations can be lengthy. I do not recommend going on an East Bali day trip from anywhere west of Denpasar (places like Seminyak, Canggu or Uluwatu) as the drive times would simply be too long – you would be looking at nearly 3 hours by car each way, and that’s only if you get lucky and encounter minimal traffic! If you are planning a day trip to East Bali I recommend staying in the following locations instead:

Sanur: Popular with families and people looking for a less frenetic pace and thinner crowds, the white sand beaches of Sanur are a big draw, as is the long beachfront boardwalk spanning almost the entire length of the Sanur coast. It is located a quick 30-minute drive from the international airport, and a 2-hour drive from East Bali. This is where I stayed to embark on my East Bali day trip!

We highly recommend booking your stay at Tandjung Sari, a family-owned boutique hotel in Sanur with a location that can’t be beat, stunning spacious rooms and a private beach area. Check the rates and availability at Tandjung Sari or read my full hotel review here.

Looking for more Sanur hotel options? You may also want to consider Maya Sanur (a luxury beachfront hotel in Sanur with a fantastic pool and oceanfront restaurant and bar), Andaz Bali (a high end peaceful resort with modern and sleek rooms, perfect for couples) or Hyatt Regency Bali (a family-friendly resort in Sanur with excellent facilities).

Ubud: Ubud in central Bali is one of the top tourist destinations in Bali and often referred to as the cultural capital of the island. It is famous for its emerald cascading rice terraces in Tegallalang, thousands of Hindu shrines, powerful waterfalls and art museums. You can travel from Ubud to Pura Lempuyang and Tirta Gangga in East Bali in approximately 2 hours by car.

We recommend checking out the individual pool villas at Origin Ubud. We loved having breakfast served poolside each morning and the spacious, brightly-lit rooms. Click here to check availability and rates at Origin Ubud or head over here to see more hotel options in Ubud.

Want to explore more Ubud hotel options? We also considered staying at 11 on Kajeng (a small boutique hotel within walking distance of the Ubud Palace and Saraswati Temple), The Sankara Resort (beautiful hotel with an excellent on-site spa, provides a shuttle service into town) and Sapodilla Ubud (one of the top-rated boutique hotels in Ubud).

If you are keen to stay in East Bali itself, here are some popular options:

Sidemen: Nestled in sprawling rice terraces, Sidemen is an off-the-beaten-track destination in Bali where you’ll find most of the boutique bamboo villas and cottages. Much like Munduk in north Bali, you will need access to some form of transportation to get around as tourism and infrastructure is still developing in this area. Click here to check highly-rated accommodation options in Sidemen.

Amed: A favorite among divers, Amed is located on the far eastern end of Bali. It is popular for white sand beaches, quiet fishing village life and volcano views. Click here to check highly-rated accommodation options in Amed.

Candidasa: Candidasa (or Candi Dasa) is located on the east coast, about two thirds of the way between Sanur and Amed. It is a popular alternative for visitors to Bali who are looking for a quieter beach getaway, but also offers easy access to Pura Lempuyang, the Besakih Mother Temple and more. Click here to explore highly-rated accommodation options in Candidasa.

How to visit and get to East Bali

Ready to plan your visit to the temples and palaces of East Bali? Here are some basics to help you prepare for your trip.

What’s the best way to explore East Bali? If you only have 1 day in East Bali, then the monuments and landmarks of East Bali are best explored by car – with or without a guide. You can also join a group tour or book a private East Bali tour like this one or this one via Klook.

The full day trip from Sanur or Ubud should take you 10-12 hours at the very minimum (if you don’t queue for a photo in front of the Insta-famous Gates of Heaven – you could be waiting for up to 4 hours!) and you can charter a car and driver for approximately 750,000-850,000 IDR (~50 US$/Euros) for the day. I recommend contacting Sudewa/Ani (Whatsapp at +62 819 9845 3366) or Wayan (Whatsapp at +62 813 3837 4919) if you are looking for a reliable driver and clean vehicle.

How much time to spend in East Bali: To make the most of your time in East Bali you will want to depart early in the morning by 7 or 8 AM, at the very latest. You should be able to visit at least 4-5 places in East Bali and get back to your hotel in Ubud or Sanur by dinner time. This means you will need to be prepared for a nearly 12-hour day of sightseeing!

Can you visit East Bali with kids? Yes, you can…but I would advise against planning an East Bali day trip with very young children – it is a big travel day with lots of sun and heat. I chose to leave my toddler at the hotel with my husband as there were more toddler and child-friendly activities to keep him entertained.

What to wear to East Bali: The majority of the population on the island are Hindu, and as a top tourism destination the dress code in Bali is typically fairly relaxed. However, if you plan on visiting any temple (which you will likely do on this day trip to East Bali) then both men and women will need to have your legs covered with a sarong, which is available to rent at most temples. You will also need to make sure that your shoulders are covered.

Places like Taman Ujung and Tirta Gangga may not have a specific dress code, but in general, you will also notice that most Balinese dress on the conservative side – it is worth bearing this in mind and being respectful of cultural norms.

East Bali day trip itinerary

Ready for your very action-packed day trip to East Bali? Here are some of the top places to visit in East Bali and important information so that you can plan ahead.

1. Visit Pura Lempuyang and the Gates of Heaven

Start bright and early by heading on the 2-hour journey and making a beeline over to Pura Lempuyang and the Gates of Heaven with Mount Agung dramatically looming in the background.

Pura Lempuyang, or “God that shines a bright light”, is perhaps one of the most iconic destinations in Bali, with tens of thousands of tourists venturing to the complex for the famous “Gates of Heaven” Balinese doorway.

There is usually a lengthy queue to take a photo at the gateway, and once your number is called a guide can take 4-5 photos for you in a series of poses (there are rules for what poses are not allowed including kissing, yoga poses or any pose where you leg is held up high), before you rush off and it’s the next person’s turn. On the day I visited, the wait was 4 hours long.

You are likely to have seen thousands upon thousands of photos of the famous “Bali gates of heaven” where the gates are reflected as if they sit on a lake – this clever illusion is created with a mirror that the guide holds just below the phone’s camera lens.

You have to take a shuttle bus which costs 45,000 IDR for the return journey, and entry costs 55,000 IDR. Visitors have to wear a sarong (which the temple provides), shoulders must be covered, and holy water is sprinkled on your head at the temple entrance.

Female visitors to Pura Lempuyang should also be aware that you cannot visit if you have your period, and the ticket officers will actually ask you whether you are currently menstruating. The upper levels of the temples are accessible only to devotees who are visiting for prayers and offerings.

Unless you are planning on touring the entire Pura Lempuyang complex which encompasses many different temples or queuing for a photo, 30-45 minutes should be sufficient here.

Ready to plan your East Bali day trip? I recommend staying in Sanur or Ubud as these two places offer fairly easy access by car to East Bali. We loved Tandjung Sari, a family-owned boutique hotel in Sanur with a private beach area. Check the rates and availability at Tandjung Sari or explore more Sanur hotel options here. If you are staying in Ubud, check out the individual pool villas at Origin Ubud. We loved the privacy of the villas and being able to walk into Ubud town. Click here to check availability and rates at Origin Ubud or head over here to see more hotel options in Ubud.

Alternatively, you can also stay in East Bali itself if you have enough time: Sidemen (surrounded by rice paddies with some stunning boutique hotels and bamboo houses on offer), Amed (popular with divers on the far eastern corner of Bali) and Candidasa (a quiet coastal village with several pristine beaches nearby) are some options for where to stay in East Bali.

2. Stop at Lahangan Sweet

You can then slowly make your way back by stopping at the stunning Lahangan Sweet viewpoint and taking a photo at one of their tree platforms. The drive from Lempuyang Temple to Lahangan Sweet should take no longer than 20-30 minutes.

I actually really enjoyed my time here – the view was incredible, and there were only a handful of other people there as well. Since my visit they have also completed a set of classic Balinese gates which mimics the pair at Pura Lempuyang (albeit smaller), so if you weren’t keen on queueing hours for a photo then you can also snap away here.

Entry costs 30,000 IDR for Lahangan Sweet and 50,000 IDR if you want to take a Jeep there from the parking lot (which I highly recommend doing, as even though the distance from the car park to the viewpoint is short, it is largely unshaded and unpaved so it will be a sweaty 15-20 minute hike).

3. Explore the grounds of Tirta Gangga

Hop back in the car and drive 30 minutes from Lahangan Sweet to the koi-filled ponds of the Tirta Gangga water palace for the next stop on your day tour of East Bali.

Explore the lush grounds and water fountains of the former royal palace built in the 1940s, or stop for a quick coffee and bite to eat at one of the restaurants inside.

The palace’s name, Tirta Gangga, means “holy water of the Ganges”. The complex features ponds and a manmade lake as you walk in. Though it can get crowded, it is one landmark you won’t want to miss if you only have 1 day in East Bali.

There are some small boats that you can hop in (for an extra fee), as well as a swimming pool on the far right hand side. The vendors (there are many) sell fish food should you want to feed the koi.

Unless you are queuing for a photo, I recommend spending no more than 30 minutes at Tirta Gangga as the grounds are compact and it gets very, very crowded.

Entry costs 50,000 IDR. There is no specific dress code for this stop on your East Bali day tour unless you are visiting the small temple within the complex, but I still recommend keeping your shoulders and knees covered to be respectful.

Ready to book your East Bali day trip? To cut down on lengthy travel times, I recommend staying in Sanur or Ubud as these two places offer easy access to East Bali by car. We loved Tandjung Sari, a family-owned boutique hotel in Sanur with a private beach area. Check the rates and availability at Tandjung Sari or explore more Sanur hotel options here.

If you are staying in Ubud, check out the individual pool villas at Origin Ubud. We loved the privacy of the villas and being able to walk into Ubud town. Click here to check availability and rates at Origin Ubud or head over here to see more hotel options in Ubud.

Alternatively, you can also stay in East Bali itself if you have enough time: Sidemen (surrounded by rice paddies with some stunning boutique hotels and bamboo houses on offer), Amed (popular with divers on the far eastern corner of Bali) and Candidasa (a quiet coastal village with several pristine beaches nearby) are some top options for where to stay in East Bali.

4. Cool down at Taman Ujung

My personal favourite stop on the East Bali day trip itinerary was the Taman Ujung water palace, just a brisk 20-minute drive from Tirta Gangga. The breeze that swept over the manmade lake was welcome after a huge day out in the sun.

Built in the early 1900s by the King of Karangasem, the sprawling and perfectly uncrowded grounds at Taman Ujung are popular for couples taking wedding photos, and you can climb this stairway for a stunning view from above.

In the middle of the complex you will find a small building connected by bridges – the rooms within the building show family portraits and photos from the royal family. Entry costs 75,000 IDR – credit cards are accepted.

5. Visit the bats at Goa Lawah

Last but not least, if you have more time (and energy), pause at Goa Lawah as your final stop of your East Bali day trip to check out the colony of bats at this unique Hindu temple. As you approach, you’ll start to hear the fluttering of hundreds of bat wings, together with their little squeaks.

The sacred temple is one of the holiest in Bali – entry costs 30,000 IDR for adults and 20,000 IDR for children (which includes sarong rental at 5,000 IDR). Like Pura Lempuyang, if you are menstruating you are forbidden from entering the temple. The drive back to Sanur from Goa Lawah will take an hour, or just over an hour if you are headed back to Ubud.

More ideas for your East Bali day tour itinerary

The 5 stops I listed out in this itinerary for a East Bali day trip took me a full 10-11 hours to travel to and visit. However, if you have more time or are actually staying overnight in one of the towns in East Bali then you might want to add these places to your list:

Besakih Great Temple: Pura Besakih is one of, if not the most, holy Hindu pilgrimage sites in Bali. Made up of nearly two dozen temples on the slopes of Mount Agung volcano, it is sometimes also referred to as the “Mother Temple”.

Mount Batur: Hiking to the top of Mount Batur to witness the sunrise is one of the most popular things to do in Bali. Many people depart for the hike from Ubud, and the trek itself is said to be very manageable – most people complete the journey within 3-4 hours.

Bukit Cinta viewpoint: Located about midway between Taman Ujung and Tirta Gangga, this is a popular viewpoint if you want sweeping views of rice paddies and Mount Agung.

Gembleng waterfall: Famous for its natural infinity rock pools, Air Tejun Gembleng is located close to Sidemen. Over the years it has grown in popularity so you may find it to be very busy.

Tukad Cepung waterfall: Hidden within a cave-like structure is this small waterfall, best known for the ray of light that peers through from about 9 AM to mid-day. It can easily be reached from Ubud or Sidemen.

Ready to book your day trip to East Bali? To cut down on lengthy travel times and to make the most of your time, stay in Sanur or Ubud as these two places offer easy access to East Bali by car. We loved Tandjung Sari, a family-owned boutique hotel in Sanur with a private beach area and fantastic on-site restaurant. Check the rates and availability at Tandjung Sari or explore more Sanur hotel options here.

If you are staying in Ubud, check out the individual pool villas at Origin Ubud. We loved the privacy of the villas and being able to walk into Ubud town. Click here to check availability and rates at Origin Ubud or head over here to see more hotel options in Ubud.

I hope you found this East Bali day trip itinerary helpful!

You may also enjoy these reads:

• First time to Bali? Here is a 2 week Bali itinerary with plenty of tips to get you started
• Canggu is a popular beach destination in Bali with plenty of cafes, yoga studios and boutiques. Read this for my Canggu travel guide
• For a quieter beach getaway consider heading to Sanur on the east coast of Bali, just a 30-minute drive from the international airport. Read my Sanur travel guide here
• Headed to Bali’s cultural capital, Ubud? Here are the best things to do in Ubud
• If you plan on spending time in the north central mountain region of Bali here is my guide to the best things to do in Munduk and Bedugul
• Uluwatu is often known as a surfer’s paradise, but it’s worth a visit even if you don’t surf. Read my guide on things to do and places to visit in Uluwatu
• There are many common misconceptions about Southeast Asia. Read this before you travel to Southeast Asia!

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